Vol. 411 No. 1
511 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Health if, in view of his reply to Parliamentary Question No. 214 dated 5 June, 1991, he will now supply the information which was requested in that question as he has failed to supply it to date, despite a promise in the reply to do so.
In reply to the Deputy's question dated 5 June 1991, I explained that information in the form requested was not routinely kept in my Department. However, as promised in my reply, my Department asked health agencies to endeavour to compile information in the form sought by the Deputy. This work is at present being carried out by the agencies but is not yet complete. I will communicate with the Deputy when I have received all the information.
On the general question of waiting-lists, I would, however, draw the Deputy's attention to the conclusion of the Dublin Hospital Initiative Group that the numbers recorded as being on waiting-lists may significantly overstate the number of patients who are, in fact, awaiting treatment, in the absence of regular validation to remove the names of patients who have been treated elsewhere, moved, or died. The group stated that such validation is not common at present, and recommended that it should be adopted as a firm policy in each hospital. Deputies will be aware that I have established an advisory group under the chairmanship of Professor David Kennedy to oversee the implementation of the recommendations of the Dublin Hospital Initiative Group.
